Awbury Arboretum
Encyclopedia
Awbury Arboretum is a nonprofit arboretum
and estate located at 1 Awbury Road in East Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Its grounds are open daily without charge.
The arboretum lies entirely within the Awbury Historic District
, a National Historic District
designated in 2001.
americana), American Sycamore (Platanus
occidentalis), and Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera).
Other trees in the collection include Acer rubrum, Amelanchier canadensis, Carpinus caroliniana, Chionanthus
virginicus, Cornus alternifolia, Cornus amomum, Cornus florida, Corylus americana, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liriodendron
tulipifera, Nyssa
sylvatica, Prunus
serotina, Quercus alba, Q. palustris, Q. prinus, and Q. rubra. Shrubs include Aronia arbutifolia, Aronia melanocarpa, Lindera
benzoin, Viburnum
dentatum, and Viburnum
prunifolium.
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
and estate located at 1 Awbury Road in East Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
. Its grounds are open daily without charge.
History
The arboretum dates back to 1852, when Henry Cope purchased the property. The grounds were laid out in the English landscape tradition, with advice from noted landscape architect William Saunders. A number of houses were constructed on the property; all are now privately owned with the exception of the Francis Cope House (1860) which is now the Arboretum headquarters. The Cope family formally established the arboretum in 1916; it became a nonprofit organization in 1984.The arboretum lies entirely within the Awbury Historic District
Awbury Historic District
The Awbury Historic District is a historic area in the East Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The district comprises the former summer homes and farms of the extended Cope family, who moved to the area starting in 1849...
, a National Historic District
National Historic District
National Historic District may refer to a historic district designated by a national government, including:* a historic district listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places * a United States National Historic Landmark District...
designated in 2001.
Trees
The arboretum is laid out as a series of open spaces, with clusters of trees and shrubs framing long vistas. Among its many mature trees, the arboretum contains a State Champion River Birch (Betula nigra), and notable specimens of American Linden (TiliaTilia
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America...
americana), American Sycamore (Platanus
Platanus
Platanus is a small genus of trees native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae....
occidentalis), and Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera).
Other trees in the collection include Acer rubrum, Amelanchier canadensis, Carpinus caroliniana, Chionanthus
Chionanthus
Chionanthus is a genus of about 80 species of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae.The genus has a wide distribution primarily in the tropics and subtropics, but with two species extending north into temperate regions, one in eastern Asia and one in eastern North America...
virginicus, Cornus alternifolia, Cornus amomum, Cornus florida, Corylus americana, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liriodendron
Liriodendron
Liriodendron is a genus of two species of characteristically large deciduous trees in the magnolia family .These trees are widely known by the common name tulip tree or tuliptree for their large flowers superficially resembling tulips, but are closely related to magnolias rather than lilies, the...
tulipifera, Nyssa
Tupelo
The tupelo , black gum, or pepperidge tree, genus Nyssa , is a small genus of about 9 to 11 species of trees with alternate, simple leaves...
sylvatica, Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. There are around 430 species spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for fruit and ornament.-Botany:Members of the genus...
serotina, Quercus alba, Q. palustris, Q. prinus, and Q. rubra. Shrubs include Aronia arbutifolia, Aronia melanocarpa, Lindera
Lindera
Lindera is a genus of about 80-100 species of flowering plants in the family Lauraceae, mostly native to eastern Asia but with three species in eastern North America. The species are shrubs and small trees; common names include Spicewood, Spicebush, and Benjamin Bush.-Overview:They are dioecious,...
benzoin, Viburnum
Viburnum
Viburnum is a genus of about 150–175 species of shrubs or small trees in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. Its current classification is based on molecular phylogeny...
dentatum, and Viburnum
Viburnum
Viburnum is a genus of about 150–175 species of shrubs or small trees in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. Its current classification is based on molecular phylogeny...
prunifolium.
See also
- Awbury Historic DistrictAwbury Historic DistrictThe Awbury Historic District is a historic area in the East Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The district comprises the former summer homes and farms of the extended Cope family, who moved to the area starting in 1849...
- List of botanical gardens in the United States